ABSTRACT
The sense of taste is mediated by taste buds located on papillae in the mouth and throat. Taste cells are formed in the epithelium around the bud and are replaced about every 10 days. This renewal process can be affected by age, disease, drugs, nutritional and hormonal states, therapeutic radiation, and other conditions that interfere with mitosis, or normal cell division. During the aging process, the number of buds and papillae tends to decline. Losses in taste sensitivity have been reported consistently in the elderly, but such losses are not nearly as great as losses in olfaction. Sensory losses for the salty taste can lead to increased use of salt and difficulty in complying with a physician’s recommendation of a low-salt diet. Psychophysical studies of taste and smell perception reveal that there are no significant differences in absolute sensitivity to chemo-sensory stimuli between obese and thin individuals.
